The Kris Van Assche show seemed inspired by men at work–or, perhaps more accurately, boys at work. This clever, playful collection took basic garments from a range of professions (a traditional farner’s sack coat, a fisherman’s wool sweater, an equestrian’s quilted nylon jacket, a banker’s flannel topcoat, a businessman’s tweed suit); dipped them in unifying shades of charcoal, black, navy and French blue; and paired almost everything with cropped pants of varying fullness that lent each ensemble a youthful charm.

The great thing about a collection like this is how many wearable clothes and accessories it contains, while still offering all the runway flair one expects from a Paris Men’s Week défilé. In other words, it’s both commercially viable and surprisingly forward-looking–a rare combination in menswear.

Kris Van Assche takes a bow at the end of the show

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that Kris Van Assche wears his own clothes so well–he’s the perfect example of a youthful, successful businessman with plenty of self-confidence (not to mention charm to spare). Top marks!

––Mark Grischke

Photographs by Stéphane Israël